Automotive Information Center First to Offer 1998 Data on New Cars and Trucks.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1997--

Consumers and Professionals Can Tap Trusted Online Resource NOW

for 1998 Auto Prices, Facts and Figures

Automotive Information Center (AIC), the industry's leading provider of objective information on new and used vehicles for both professionals and consumers, announced that it is first to market with the immediate availability of a 1998 model year database, as well as 1998 professional and consumer products.

For consumers, AutoSite (http://www.autosite.com) provides the greatest depth and widest array of consumer pricing, comparison and specification reports available on the Web -- at no charge. For auto industry professionals, AutoSite Pro (http://www.pro.autosite.com) is the industry standard competitive data and analysis platform. Both sites are up to date with the 1998 models, and are updated continuously as models and prices change.

"What makes AutoSite unique for both consumers and professionals is unparalleled update frequency, depth of coverage and a unique approach to pricing -- all of which make it extremely simple to equip vehicles and then to compare," said Wayne Lilley, CEO of Automotive Information Center. "Our Target Pricing feature has a unique benefit for each of our consumer and professional audiences: it allows consumers to build a personalized vehicle with the options they want in record time; and it allows auto industry professionals to compare popularly-equipped vehicles on an apples-to-apples basis."

Timeliness is a major benefit of AIC's Web-based service. Continuously updated prices and options are paramount for both consumers and professionals. In an environment where there are more online vehicle purchases, information supporting those purchases must be timely and accurate.

The sophistication of AutoSite's database allows consumers to create extremely detailed reports, which is especially useful in "pricing-up" a particular car. At other automotive sites, this process can be extremely tedious and confusing. At AutoSite, there is no need to work through multiple pages of irrelevant options and packages. Consumers specify what vehicle they want and how they want it equipped, and the let AutoSite select the options they need. Using AutoSite, consumers can create a window sticker in minutes, and then use the window sticker pricing report to negotiate "a fair market price" when buying or leasing an automobile.

About Automotive Information Center

AutoSite (http://www.autosite.com) is a 30,000 page on-line automotive buyer's guide utilized by consumers in the market to purchase an automobile. AutoSite offers comprehensive data on new and used vehicles as well as all other information relevant to the automotive ownership cycle.

AutoSite Pro for industry analysts utilizes an enormous storehouse of automotive information, containing data on virtually every aspect of nearly 1,000 trim levels for all vehicles sold in the United States. Because of AIC's strict methodology assuring the highest levels of accuracy, timeliness and consistency, AutoSite Pro offers the industry a superior platform for competitive comparison and analysis.

Automotive Information Center is the industry's leading provider of objective new and used vehicle information to both professionals and consumers. Since 1982, AIC has compiled pricing, specifications, standard and optional equipment, and a wide range of supporting data on all cars, vans, light trucks and sport utility vehicles sold in the United States. AIC is a Thomson Publishing Company based in Westborough, Mass.

Autosite is a trademark of Automotive Information Center.

CONTACT: Automotive Information Center

Heidi Lehmann, 508/870-5955 ext. 244

[e-mail]